Education
How to Save Money for College
Everyone knows that college is an important step in the life of any person. It is one of the main goals, the accomplishment of which offers high hopes for a successful future.
However, it is not a big surprise that higher education comes at a considerable cost, with tuition fees getting higher each year.
Forward-looking parents who want to ensure future prosperity for their children usually start saving for college as soon as their babies have managed to make the first step.
Even more prudent parents are sure to have a definite plan of making savings for their offspring’s studies. Even if you haven’t started yet, and your child is about to mail out application letters, it is never too late.
Nevertheless, a good plan is always a beneficial strategy, especially in financial endeavours. Here are some tips on how to save money for college.
Set a Definite Goal
That is the place to start from. To plan something, you need to know what exactly you are planning for. Assess your needs and define what sum is required for them. Answer some questions:
- For how many children are you going to pay?
- How much time is left before they go to college?
- For how many years will they study?
- Are you going to fund all this period or only half?
- What college do you have in mind? Public, private, or community? In- or out-of-state?
- What are the projected expenses for accommodation and transportation?
Of course, some of these questions may have no definite answer so far. Thus, it would be prudent to have several possible scenarios. But in any case, at least approximate calculations can help to see the final picture and define the further plan. Conduct some research based on your goals derived from the answers and make use of online financial calculators to help you with estimates and budgeting.
Define the Way of Saving
When the definite goal is set and you know what sum (at least approximate) you’ll need to cover, you have to decide on the saving and investment vehicle that will help you achieve your objectives. There are a number of options, some of which offer rather attractive tax-saving benefits.
As some of the examples, you may use section 529 plans, Coverdell Education Savings Accounts (ESAs), Individual Development Accounts (IDAs), or taxable mutual fund or brokerage accounts. Each of them comes with its pros and cons, of course. Make some online research to learn more about each available option to decide which one is the most beneficial for you.
Start Saving
Of course, it is more than obvious that the earlier you start saving, the more money you will get at the end. But even if you started a bit late, you still have good chances with an advantageous plan. Just remember to keep discipline in setting aside some amount regularly.
Make it a part of your monthly household budget like utility bills or sign up for automated regular contributions to the savings account if needed. By the way, some savings plans may be open for other parties, so do not hesitate to involve other relatives or friends who want to contribute.
Consider cutting on your daily expenses. Analyze your family budget and think about where you could save more without creating a considerable strain on your everyday lives. Make use of all the possible bonuses, loyalty programs, and wage rises. Every penny matters for your precious child and their prospects in life.
Consider Financial Aid
Undoubtedly any assistance from outside will be useful, so consider all the possible options.
Scholarships and grants take the first position on the list. If your children do not qualify for need-based ones, pin your hopes on merit-based awards. Encourage your kids to strive for higher achievements in studies and extra-curricular activities and help them succeed at every step they take. Explain to them that this is a good helper in planning for their future, but do not get overly demanding though. Psychological traumas will not pave their way into college.
Student loans are another way of financial aid that you as a parent may get for your children’s college education. Start with filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at the Department of Education, which will consider if and how much federal aid you may qualify for.
If you have no other way out but for borrowing, try all the possible federal loan options in the first place. Banks and credit unions offer private student loans but usually with much higher rates. In any case, you should research and study this issue thoroughly and carefully before signing any deals, assessing the sum you can afford to borrow, and examining all the possible repayment options.
One more viable option to help you save for your children’s college is engaging them in the endeavour and encouraging them to get a part-time job. While still in high school and after having been admitted to a college, your kid can perform a myriad of jobs. They can work in a local library, store, or cafeteria, write Pro-papers for their peers, deliver mail or pizza, or even get employed as a junior assistant in your company.
In addition to helping you bridge the financial gap, such a move will teach them independence and responsibility from a young age. They should understand that investing in their future and relieving their parents from the burden at least partially is very honourable.
Bottom Line
Of course, college for your children demands a lot from the parents. It is not a surprise for anyone that ensuring your kids’ bright future is a costly pursuit. However, a security plan and your firm resolve can help you remove mountains. Plan and start saving as early as possible to get more opportunities for yourself and your children.
By Adedapo Adesanya
President Bola Tinubu has approved the renaming of the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) College of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Kaduna, in honour of the late statesman, General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, in a move aimed at preserving his legacy while strengthening Nigeria’s specialised energy education framework.
The PTDF announced that, following a presidential directive, the institution will now be known as the General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua University of Geological Sciences and Engineering Technology.
In a statement, the Fund said the renaming reflects the federal government’s recognition of Yar’Adua’s contributions to national unity and Nigeria’s democratic evolution.
The late statesman, who died in 1997, was a prominent Nigerian soldier, politician, and businessman. He served as the Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters, under General Olusegun Obasanjo’s military administration from 1977 to 1979. He was the elder brother of former Nigerian President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.
“This historic renaming honours the enduring legacy of the late statesman, General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, celebrating his profound contributions to national unity and the democratic journey of Nigeria,” the PTDF stated.
The institution, established to develop high-level manpower and technical expertise for Nigeria’s petroleum and energy industries, is expected to continue its academic and research activities without disruption despite the name change.
According to the PTDF, the university will maintain its focus on delivering advanced education, research and technology-driven solutions for the country’s oil, gas and emerging renewable energy sectors.
“The institution remains firmly committed to its mandate of delivering world-class research, specialised training, and cutting-edge engineering technology solutions to power Nigeria’s oil, gas, and renewable energy sectors,” the statement added.
The Fund further assured students, academic partners, industry stakeholders and development institutions that all existing programmes, collaborations and operational activities would continue seamlessly under the university’s new identity.
“All ongoing academic programs, partnerships, and operations continue uninterrupted under this new institutional identity,” PTDF said.
The renaming comes as Nigeria intensifies efforts to build local capacity and technical expertise to support energy transition goals, deepen indigenous participation in the petroleum industry and strengthen research-driven innovation across the energy value chain.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
A sustainability-focused programme known as Airtel Green Schools has been launched by Airtel Africa Foundation, as part of activities to commemorate the 2026 World Environment Day, themed Climate Action.
The initiative will create environmental learning spaces in primary and secondary schools, with the spaces to be branded Airtel Garden.
Already, the company’s 10 adopted schools, located in nine states across the country’s six geopolitical zones, have been onboarded as Green Schools.
Each of the schools now features an Airtel Garden, with dedicated sections for edible crops, fruit trees and shade trees, enabling pupils to learn firsthand about food cultivation, biodiversity and the importance of increasing green cover to help mitigate the effects of climate change.
The gardens also incorporate composting stations where organic waste generated within the school environment can be converted into nutrient-rich compost. To boost circular economy practices, plastic recycling segments have also been built into repurpose common wastes such as plastic bottles and tyres.
The beneficiary schools of the programme include St. George’s Nursery and Primary School, Ipaja, Lagos; Yahaya Primary School, Zaria; Iyeru-Okin Primary School, Iyeru-Okin, Kwara; St. John Primary School, Ijebu Igbo, Ogun State, and Community Primary School, Amumara, Imo State.
Others are Presbyterian Primary School, Ediba, Cross-River; Migrant Farmers Community Primary School, Umuahia, Abia State; Gwange III Primary School, Maiduguri, Borno State; Mayflower Secondary School, Ikenne, Ogun State; and Government Day Primary School, Gombe State.
“We are excited to inaugurate Airtel Green Schools, which are designed to go beyond awareness and create real behavioural change within Nigeria’s school communities.
“Through the Restore, Reduce and Educate pillars, we are equipping young people with practical tools such as gardens, recycling awareness, and environmental learning resources.
“Our goal is to create a replicable Green School model that can be scaled and sustained over time, ensuring that environmental education becomes part of everyday learning for the children in our adopted schools,” the chairman of the foundation, Mr Segun Ogunsanya, stated.
Also speaking, the chief executive of Airtel Nigeria, Mr Dinesh Balsingh, said, “Climate action becomes meaningful when awareness is translated into action. Through the Airtel Garden, we are creating living classrooms where pupils can learn practical lessons about environmental stewardship, sustainable agriculture, waste management and the importance of protecting our planet.
“We believe that empowering young people with these experiences today will help shape a more environmentally responsible generation tomorrow.”
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
A former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Prof Oluwatoyin Temitayo Ogundipe, has been appointed as the chairman of the governing board of the National Universities Commission (NUC).
He was chosen for the role by President Bola Tinubu, according to a statement on Monday by the president’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga.
Prof Ogundipe succeeds Professor Olufemi Raphael Aina, who resigned his appointment after less than one year in office.
President Tinubu appointed Professor Aina in July last year, and the board members were inaugurated in November 2025.
As NUC Chairman, Prof Ogundipe will oversee the regulatory body of the Nigerian university system, focusing on funding, global competitiveness and academic stability.
He is expected to provide visionary leadership at the NUC and sustain the credibility of the Nigerian university system by advancing quality, access, and integrity in the education sector.
Prof Ogundipe headed the University of Lagos between 2017 and 2022. He is a professor of Botany with expertise in molecular plant taxonomy, biosystematics, ethnobotany, cytogenetics, forensic botany, and ecological conservation.
He holds a PhD in Botany from Obafemi Awolowo University and an MBA from the University of Lagos.
Currently, Prof Ogundipe, 66, serves as Pro-Chancellor of Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State.
He is a fellow of several professional bodies, including the Nigerian Academy of Science, the Linnaean Society of London, and the Royal Society of Biology, London. He has also served as President of the Botanical Society of Nigeria and Chairman of the Lagos State Science, Research and Innovation Council (LASRIC).
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